Emirates first: Two Emirati female pilots promoted as captains

Emirates has made history by promoting two Emirati female pilots, Hanan Mohammed Jawad and Bakhita Al Mheiri, to captains, becoming the airline’s first Emirati women to achieve this rank. Both pilots joined Emirates through the National Cadet Pilot Programme, with Jawad starting in 2008 and Al Mheiri in 2011, and have since accumulated extensive experience. Hanan Mohammed Jawad has logged 9,253 flying hours and credits her inspiration to seeing the UAE’s first female pilot on TV at age 14. She described her promotion as a milestone but emphasized it is just the beginning, noting her years as a First Officer prepared her for command. Bakhita Al Mheiri attributed her success to mentorship and guidance from Emirates’ training captains, highlighting the importance of responsibility, discipline, and passing knowledge forward to future generations. The airline’s commitment to Emirati talent was underscored by Capt Hassan Alhammadi, Emirates’ Divisional Senior Vice President Flight Operations, who praised the cadet pilot programme for providing opportunities to young men and women. He called the achievement of Jawad and Al Mheiri a reflection of Emirates’ ability to nurture talent from entry-level roles to leadership positions. Both pilots expressed pride in contributing to the UAE’s future and emphasized Emirates’ role in creating opportunities for women in aviation. Their promotion aligns with the airline’s broader mission to empower Emirati women and develop local talent in aviation, ensuring a strong pipeline for future leadership.